Cutting-off machine



Jan. 11, 1944. R Q MUSE CUTTING OFF MACHINE Filed Sept, 5, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet l bmw Jan. 11, 1944?. R B MUSE CUTTING OFF`MAGHINE 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 5

INVENTOR. efr '3. Muss 47m/mfr Jan., 19M R. B. MUSE 2,339,097

CUTTING OFF MACHINE Filed Sept. 5. 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i if? v INVENToR.

70E-SRT?. MUSE Jan. 11, 15344.

Filed sepa 5.

-l mi,mud

Jan. 11, 1944. R. BfMUsE 'CUTTING OFF MACHINE Filed sept.l 5, 1942 5 sheets-sheet 5 26a INVENTOR osx'r. Nwe BY #fron/ver f of the machine;

Patented Jan. 11, 1944 l UNITED STATES PATENT eprice Application'scptember 5, 1942, Serial No. 457,425

1-27Cl-aims.

VThe invention relates to 'cut-off and delivery j mechanism and more particularly such a mecha- V lnism for cutting off' streams' of exible solid material such as solder.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,`the machine comprises la suitable framework supporting' a drivel motor driving a circuiar saw and also driving 'a plurality of feed rolls. The

v iieXilcle streams of material are fed to the several feed rolls which in turn deliver the material to suitable guide devices disposed around the periphery of the saw. These guide devcesmay each comprise a guide tube anterior of the sawl and a receiving trough posterior of the saw. Suitable rock shafts may independently support the sets of guide tubes and guide troughs forindependently rocking the several streams into the saw tocut 01T lengths thereof. Each guide trough may have an adjustable stop device for stopping thefstream momentarily to measure a' desired length. Suitable electrical control devicesl may be provided, controlled by said stop devices, for quickly rocking vthe particular vguide device to carry itsV stream i into the saw after which the position of the trough s'such that the 'cut-off able hopper. While this machine maybe used for cuttinginto lengths rmany different materials in stream v"form,

'length' drops rinto av suitting movement is so fast' that there isino' inter- 'ruption in stream movement and no complicated j adjustmentof the/saw is necessary to correlate it Ato the stream movement.

The invention also consists in' certain vnew and roriginal features oi' constructionA and combinar tions of parts hereinafter set forth and `claimed.

Pdthough the novel features Which'are believed to be characteristic of this invention vvill-beparticularly pointed out in 'the claims appended' hereto, the invention itself, yas to'itsobjects and advantages, and the manner in which itv 'may-be carried out, may be betterunderstoodiby referring to the following description takenlin connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in Which A f r Fig. l'represents a plan viewpartly in section Fig. 2 'ist a vertical elevationpartly inv section Fig. 2lillustr'atingithe" driving mechanism for the l-i .i i' g "Fig "4 is a transverse 'sectioncn `the line 4--4 of vFigi 2; illis'titin'g"thepositionand operation fthe guideviees; l i Figi 5" isa ydetailedsection' takenl onthe line cr-5 (litigi-4 ail-df iilustiating-theconstruction of "one ofthe guide devicesjin itsf-ute'i position "away 'from thesaw';

f6- ii'iiistrates a view similari@ Fig. 5' showin'gtheguidedvice after A'it' has'moved they stream '.Fig 8"illustrate.'s' diagrammatically'an electricaTWirin'g'diagrafn"show rig hoi/v .the stop devices .operate the solenoidsdyvhich svving the"streams J into the savvj "Figi 9 is a fragmentary vertical 'elevation partly in 4section of ainod'ifie'd form; and I 'Figi l19 is @section Qn the line luf-io of Fig. 9. In theiollowing description and in thevclai-rns, various-detailswillbeidentied by specific names for convenience;but*theyvk are intended to-bey as generic in -theirapplication as the art Will'permit. Likereferencenclfiaracters1denotev likev parts in Vthe. several-gures,ofatlr1e-dravvings.' g A In the drawings accompanying-and forming l f partof thissspecication,certain:specicdisclo- '30 sure ofl the invention; isfmade-:for-purposes of; explanationfbut `itwill,loe-understood that the de- 'fltail's may be modified-in-Various respects Without *departure from' the'broad- 'aspect of the invention.

. f Referring noW'to the'fdrawings, andI more particuiarlytofFigsl'andA 2,1 the cutting and deliverling V)machinezis.iilustratedfin'use with a die press, in'dicated-by lil" ofthel'kindiusually used for-ex- 4i truding fwiresfofisolder. rThe .streams of solid 40 solder are indicatedby.JH.-irThesefstreams may :ffhave' a circularY ross-fsection oria star'ishaped V'ros's-'sectiong` or any .fother" cross-sectioninecesary y"or^desirablefio'r fthe.' iinished'fproduct.` yThe 'f several strea'rn's'ill"y pass intofthe guide" devices, lfo'ur i of `3lWhich1 are'shown for: purposes of i illustration 'and identified by :thereference characters tiefere' 48949. Si' Lrnes' "fl-'guia devices f-'carryxthe streams H- ipastthe circii'ilarl'sa'wVT l3i1`the ystrearns l I" being "piop'elledfby 'table propeller r'olls" v2li,

21, 28;'f29ff(Fig'./'3)'.'f 1

The machine frame- "indicated bv 1' 115 land is 'eferabl'y 'spaced a' tain distancefroni the die e'ssflillso'gttat-th treamsv llfmay extend.un l supported'. for f la: certain distance" for? Hu'r'pue'ses 5s" 'which Will' hereaftefappar( f-If'fth distaiieebe of brackets or arms 56.

too great, supporting troughs 23 may be provided for a part of the distance.

The framework I5 comprises end walls 14 and i5 with an intermediate wall 15 forming compartments 42 and 43. Supported on the framework i5 is an electric motor I6, having its shaft disposed parallel to the longitudinal aXis of the machine. Disposed on the posterior side of the motor is a circular saw I3 having a suitable stationary arcuate guard 22 secured to the adjacent frame of the machine (Fig. 4).

Anterior of the motor I6 is a shaft coupling I8 (Fig. l) which is connected to the input shaft of the gear reducer I9 having an output shaft I4 supporting pulleys 2|) and 2| on opposite sides thereof. These pulleys drive the four feed rolls 2&3, 21, 28, 29 by a suitable belt and pulley arrangement.

Referring now also to Fig. 3, the lower roll 26 is mounted upon a lower shaft 30; the lower ini termediate roll 21 is mounted upon a lower intermediate shaft 3|; the upper intermediate roll 2S is mounted upon an upper intermediate shaft 32 and the upper roll 29 is mounted upon an upper shaft 33. All of these roll shafts are suitably journalled in the frame of the machine. The upper shaft 33 constitutes a master shaft in that it also supports two pulleys 35 and 38, the pulley 35 supporting a belt 25 which is driven by pulley mentioned above. constitutes a master shaft having two pulleys 34 and t, the pulley 34 supporting a belt 24 driven by pulley 2| mentioned above. The lower intermediate shaft 3I has a pulley 39 driven by belt which is driven by pulley 33. The upper intermediate shaft 32 has a pulley 4I driven by belt El which is driven by pulley 40.

Thus, the several grooved rolls 25, 21, 23, 29 have their upper surfaces disposed generally in line with the belled ends 54 of the several guide tubes 53 of the guide devices 46, 41, 48 and 49.

The several guide devices 46, 41, 48, 49 are substantially stationary except for a limited rocking movement necessary to carry the streams into the saw I3. Since all of these guide devices are disposed around the periphery of the saw I3, as indicated particularly in Fig. 4, and are of similar construction, it is only necessary to describe one guide device in detail.

Referring now also to Figs. 5 and (i, the guide f style by bracket59; the straight guide tube 53 passes through an arcuate clearance space 58 in 4the wall 15v to permit the arcuate movement of the guide device and this tube 53 is supported in compartment 42 by vbracket 51.

Spaced from the guide tube 53 and in line therewith is an open-top straight guide trough 55 supported on the` rock shaft 50 by a plurality Closing the posterior end of the trough 55 is an adjustable stop 60 mounted upon a holder 6I adjust-ably clamped by clamps B2 aroundthe trough 55. Thus, by loosening the clamps 62 and sliding the holder 6I lengthwise of the trough 55, the length of the cut-off piece IIA may be adjusted, as will hereafter more fully appear. e

The several rock shafts 5E) are individuallir driven by separate power solenoid mechanism illustrated more specifically in Figs. 7 and 8.

l Mounted upon. theposjvriorside. ofvv wall 14 are The lower roll shaft 30 also t series of solenoids, one for each guide device 46, 41, 45, 4S, each solenoid mechanism being of similar construction so that it is only necessary to describe one in detail.

Mounted upon the end of rock shaft 5I! is a double arm t5, one end of which is pivoted to a link 61 which in turn is pivoted to a plunger 54 of the solenoid d3; the other end of arm 65 is secured to a spring GS which is anchored on the stationary end wall l'. It will thus be Seen that the springs @il normally hold the guide devices with their streams II out of engagement with the saw I3 but, when the solenoids t3 are energized, the shafts 55 are quickly rotated against the springs B5, quickly moving the several streams i I into the saw I3 cutting off the lengths I IA.

The solenoids 53 are controlled by the stop block 5d through suitable electric wiring, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 8. It will be understood that the stop blocks 5l] are maintained outwardly by springs 1I which normally hold open the electric contacts (not shown) in holders 5i. The contact devices in holders 6I are in series with their solenoids 53 and the several arrangements are connected in parallel across a source of power 'il so that each solenoid may operate entirely independently of the other. Instead of having the contact devices 6I connected directly in series with the solenoid 63, suitable power relays (omitted for simplicity) may be interposed, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

In operation, the several streams II extruded by the die press Ill may be carried across an open space and into the feed rolls 2S, 21, 28, 29, suitable supporting troughs or channels 23 being interposed in case the space between the cutting machine and the die press is too great to leave the streams II entirely unsupported. The friction caused by the grooves in the feed rolls feeds the streams into the guide tubes 53 and thence past the saws I3 into the guide troughs 55 whence they contact the stop blocks dil. The stop blocks Si) close the contacts in holders EI which immediately energize the respective solencids B3 which move the several rock shafts 5t with their guide tubes 53 and guide troughs 55 each as a unit, carrying the streams i I into the saw I3 immediately and quickly cutting off lengths IIA. The rocking movement of the troughs brings them into such position that the cut-off lengths IIA are dumped out whence they fall upon a suitable chute 68 which guides them to a suitable receptacle.

It will be understood that the length of the cut-off pieces IIA may be adjusted by adjusting the clamps 52 for holder 6| on the trough 55. If desired, the several troughs 55 may be adjusted to give the cut-olf pieces all the same length, or each trough 55 may be adjusted to give a cut-off piece IA cf a different length from the others.

Due to the speed with which the cuts are made by saw i3 and due to the flexibility of the material of the streams li and due to the streams being unsupported 'for a considerable distance between die ifi and the cutting machine, a certain lateral yield or shift in the streams can take place and no interruption or retardation is caused in the stream liow out of the die press I@ by the momentary stoppage of that portion of the stream anterior of the saw during the instant cutting takes place. As soon as the guide devices withdraw the streams from thevsaw, the feed rolls immediatelytake up the i slight slackin the streamswhich is piled up at the unsupported part thereof due to the momentary stoppage of the streams; and the `feed rolls lfeed the streams fromithe tubes 53 into the f troughs 55 Awhere theyr contactthefstop blocks 60- and thereby cause the nextcutting operation.

The feed rolls 26 to 29 mayr normally. have a peripheral speed vslightly in excess of thespeed atwhichthe streams are extruded from the die lpress l to takewcare of themomentary slight piling up in the streams Vdue to the cutting-off operation. The yfrictional engagement `between '.therolls and the streams permits the rolls to slip with respect to. the streamswhile .they are momentarily stoppedduring the. cutting operation andtheir -slight extra speed moves the portions of the streams which theycontact at a .higher rate to take. upthev slack in the streams.

.nlthough four streams are shown, a greater orlesser number may bes provided for by suitable changes in structure.. By the verynature of the ,machina thezoperation of 'eachi stream is inde- :pendent of thehotherand ythe several streams of Vmetal may move at dierent f ting oir voperations of thedifferent streams may Voccur at differenty times.

speeds and the cut- Ifdesired, instead aoi having the streams brought downwardly by gravity from the die press to the cuttingzmachine, they may be moved upwardly or in a horizontal plane, and the angle of ther feed rolls may be made sharper for increased friction if necessary.

The rocking movement of the guide devices is so rapid that there is no appreciable slowing up ofthe metal stream coming to :the machine and,

f in the forms shown, only onemotor of one-half horse power is necessary to drive the entire cutting f machine. If desired, the diierent streams may come from y'dies of the-same ordiierent diameter or shape. In the event the streams are of different diameter l, or lshape and also in the event that the diierent Y troughs are producing rods oiidiferent length or weight, a plurality ofdiverting-chutes may,

be provided to divert the different products into different containers from which they may be separately packaged.

-Referring now to Figs. Qand l0, the corresponding parts inthe modiiied form are denoted in :general by the same reference characters but followed by the letter a. In this form, the construction is similar to that of the first form, the

guide tube .53a is curved so that its bell mouth y. 54a is in line with the axis of the rock shaft Sila. Further, the propeller rroll 25a has a V-shaped l'groove instead of a'flat bottom or square groove asin the propeller rollr in the'rst form. The

path oi movement of ther stream through the V-shaped groove is substantially in line with the belll shaped '.mouth la. The placing of the bell mouth de on the axis of rock shaft 5ta has the advantage of lreepinglthe path ofthe solder .stream :stationary as thefguide tube is given its rocking, movement to cut orf lengths of solder.

- The hgroovedrolls in general apply more traction to thesolder streamsztlian the square grooved rolls, and, like the square grooved rolls, can-handle-diierent'diameters of solder. The straight guide tubes, however, have the advantage of offering less resistance to the solder stream than the grooved tubes. In either of the above forms, the maximum diameter or cross dimension of the stream will be substantially less than the inside diameter of the guide tube tolinsure complete :.freedomoi movement. For

fexample, for a guide tube of 1/2' Ainch inside vdiameter, the maximumdiameter of solder may be from inch to inch.

The-'method oi operation of the second form is substantially the same as the method of operation of the irst form and=will thereiore be readily v apparent from the description of the operation of the rst form.

Thus, a multi-stream cutting machine is provided which is simple and efiicient in operation.

- yThere is nothingl to get out oi order. The flexibility ofthe streams and design of the machine take lcare of the momentary stoppage of the `streams during cutting and itk is not necessary to go to complicated construction to provide a compensating movement of the saw with the stream duringthe cutting thereof'. Furthermore, the several streams, being absolutely independent of each other, may be operated independently,

-- as described above,l as to speed, length or diamto the direction oi movement of` Said stream, a

stop to engage the free end of said stream which causes said stream to stop its longitudinal movement momentarily when the stream engages said i stop, and meansrior moving said stream transversely oi itself into the saw, the guide and the flexibility o the stream permitting such lateral movement permitting momentary stoppage of the stream ow duringv cutting.

2. In amachine of the character described,

' means for feeding a continuous stream of solid having a blade whoseposition is Xed transverse material, a guide device vfor said stream, a saw to the direction oi movement of said stream, a Y stop causing the stream to stop its longitudinal movement momentarily, and means'for relatively moving said guide device and blade transversely 'to said direction ot' movement when said stream is stopped in its longitudinal movement, the guide and the flexibility of the stream permitting such transverse movement and permitting momentary stoppage oi the stream flow during cutting.

3. In a machine of the character described, a stationarily mounted moving saw, means for feeding a plurality oi streams oi material past rsaid saw., and'controlv devices for each stream,

operating independently of the other, for moving 1 the streams into the saw to cutoff lengths thereof,

each of said control devices comprisingA a `stop for each stream actuated by engagement of the f stream therewith and to momentarily stop the engaged stream, and a solenoid operative upon actuation or said stop to move the engaged stream transversely of its length across the cutting teeth Y of said saw when said stream is thus stopped.

, 4. In a machine of the' character described, a stationarily mounted circular saw, guides arranged around the periphery of said saw for feeding a plurality of streams of material past said saw, and control devices for each stream operating independently of the other for moving said guides laterally of the streams into the saw to out off lengths thereof, said control devices comprising an actuating stop for each stream and an electrically operated solenoid responsive to the actuation of said stop to cause movement of said guides laterally when a stream engages said stop.

5. In a machine for sawing a plurality of streams of material into lengths, a saw, guide devices for guiding said plurality of streams past said saw, said guide devices being interrupted at the saw, stop devices on said guide devices for momentarily stopping the stream, and electrically operated solenoids controlled by said stop devices for causing movement of said guide devices to carry said streams against said saw to cut off said lengths.

6. In a machine for sav/ing a plurality of streams of material into lengths, a circular saw, guide devices for guiding said plurality of streams past said saw, said guide devices being disposed around the periphery of said saw, said guide devices being interrupted to provide clearance for the saw, stop devices on said guide devices for momentarily stopping the streams, means controlled by said stop devices for moving said guide devices to carry said streams against said saw to out off said lengths, said movement also serving to discharge the cut-olic lengths from said guide devices.

7. In a machine for sawing a stream of material into lengths, a saw, guide devices for guiding said stream past said saw, said guide devices comprising a guide tube anterior of the saw and an open top trough posterior of the saw, a stop device on said guide trough for stopping the stream, means including an arm electrically operated in response to the stopping of said stream by said stop device for moving said guide device to carry said stream against said saw to cut olf said lengths, said movement also serving to dump the cut-olf lengths out of said open-top troughs.

8. In a machine for cutting streams of material into predetermined lengths, a framework, a drive shaft journalled in said framework longitudinally thereof, a circular saw secured to said drive shaft, a plurality of guide devices extending generally lengthwise of said framework and disposed generally about the periphery of said saw, each guiding device comprising a rock shaft journalled in said framework, a guide tube secured to said rock shaft on the anterior side of said saw, an open trough secured to said rock shaft on the posterior side of said saw, adjustable stop and contact devices secured to said trough, an arm secured to said rock shaft, a solenoid secured to one end of said arm, a return spring secured to the other end of said arm, electrical control devices connecting said Contact devices and said solenoid, a plurality of feed rolls anterior of said guide tubes, each feed roll being generally in alignment with its guide tube, and means for feeding streams of material to said feed rolls.

9. In a machine for cutting streams of material into predetermined lengths, a framework, a drive shaft journalled in said framework longitudinally thereof, a circular saw secured to said drive shaft, a plurality of guide devices extending generally lengthwise of said framework and disposed generally about Jthe periphery of said saw,

each guiding device comprising a rock shaft journalled in said framework, a guide tube secured to said rock shaft on the anterior side of said saw, an open trough secured to said rock shaft on the posterior side of said saw, adjustable stop devices secured to said trough, means operated by said stop devices for independently swinging each guide device toward the saw, a plurality of feed rolls anterior of said guide tubes, each feed roll being in substantial alignment with its guide device, and means for feeding streams of material to said feed rolls.

10. In a machine for cutting streams of material into predetermined lengths, a support, a drive shaft journalled in said support longitudinally of the machine, a circular saw secured to said drive shaft, a plurality of guide devices extending longitudinally of said machine and disposed generally around the periphery of said saw, each guiding device comprising a rock shaft journalled on said support, and a straight tube secured to said rock shaft, said tube having a belled mouth, a plurality of feed rolls anterior of and adjacent lhe belled mouths of said guide tubes, each feed roll having a fiat bottomed groove permitting lateral movement of the stream, said flat bottomed grooves being substantially in line with said straight tubes, and means for feeding streams of material to said feed rolls.

11. In a machine for cutting streams of material into predetermined lengths, a support, a drive shaft journalled in said support longitudinally of the machine, a circular saw secured to said drive shaft, a plurality of guide devices extending longitudinally of the machine and disposed generally around the periphery of said saw, each guiding device comprising a rock shaft journalled on said support, and a curved tube secured vto said rock shaft, said tube having a belled mouth, a plurality of feed rolls anterior of and adjacent the belled mouth of said guide tubes, each feed roll having a V-shaped groove, said curved tubes having their belled mouths located substantially on the axis of their rock shafts and substantially in line with the V-grooves in the feed rolls, and means for feeding streams of material to said feed rolls.

12. In a framework,

multi-stream sawing machine, a a circular saw journalled in said framework, a plurality of guide devices arranged about the periphery of said saw, a plurality of feed rolls disposed anteriorly of said guide devices comprising grooved rolls having their upper surfaces generally in line with said guide devices,

ka pulley on said lower upper, upper intermediate, lower intermediate and lower shafts for said rolls, two pulleys on said upper shaft both on one side of its roll, two pulleys on said lower shaft on opposite sides of its roll, a pulley on said upper intermediate shaft, a belt connecting said last-mentioned pulley and shaft, a pulley on said lower intermediate shaft and a belt connecting said last-mentioned pulley and a pulley on said upper shaft, a counter-shaft, pulleys on said counter-shaft and belts connecting said countershaft pulleys and the second pulleys on said upper and lower shafts, and means driving said countershaft.

ROBERT B. MUSE. 

